A long-running dispute over the redevelopment of the Roland Garros tennis site in Paris appears to be over after the French Tennis Federation (FFT) claimed “game, set and match” in a legal battle with protesters.
Roland Garros, which hosts the French Open grand slam, has been pencilled in for extensive redevelopment work for some time, but the project has been delayed on numerous occasions.
Protesters had felt the €400m redevelopment ($430m) project, which will result in a roof being added to the showpiece Court Philippe Chatrier, would have a detrimental impact on the adjoining Serres d’Auteuil botanical garden.
In November the Paris High Court ruled in favour of the FFT after the heirs of the Serres d’Auteuil designer, Jean-Camille Formige, protested about the plans.
The Formiges appealed the ruling but the FFT’s case now appears to have won after the Paris Administrative Tribunal last week ruled in favour of the body.
Three new courts will be formed following the renovation, which is expected to be completed by 2020. After the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York was fitted with a retractable roof last year, Roland Garros is now the only grand slam without a covered court.
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